How It Works

The topics at left show the basic phases of a local Grants to Green initiative. Click on any topic to learn more about what happens during that phase.

Assessment & Research
Before beginning a Grants to Green initiative, the foundation researches its community to determine the specific needs, community interest, and potential for local nonprofit participation. It also researches and identifies potential environmental partners.

Gathering Partners & Advisors
The foundation forms a partnership with a qualified energy partner and an external evaluator. An Advisory Committee is established to provide strategic oversight and guidance on the Grants to Green initiative, including key donors and other stakeholders. The foundation brings together members of the community and enlists their input and perspectives.

Initiative Funding
The foundation develops a financial model to support operations and retrofit costs for a local Grants to Green initiative. The resources available in each community will vary. If you are a funder seriously considering replication, please contact The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Proposals for seed funding from funders willing to co-invest may be considered.

Grantmaking
The foundation establishes eligibility guidelines and issues grants to nonprofits. These consist of both assessment awards, to assess nonprofit facilities and evaluate their current energy practices and identify opportunities for improvement, and implementation grants, to implement recommended projects identified in the assessment (see Sample Assessment Report and Sample Summary of Audit). In this stage, the foundation also provides guidance and technical assistance in the implementation of the grants.

Green Champions
Each grantee appoints a person who will champion the initiative throughout assessment, implementation and evaluation. These Green Champions receive training and attend regular meetings with other Grants to Green Champions. Green Champions input and track utility information, publicize news and successes, and inspire green practices within their organizations.

Monitoring & Evaluation
The foundation collects quantitative and qualitative data before, during, and after assessments and project implementation funding is awarded to measure changes in green knowledge, practices and policies. An online tracking system is utilized for collecting, assessing, and reporting on utility data. Nonprofits record their progress and energy usage, and the foundations access that data for real-time analysis. The evaluator and energy partner provide assistance with collecting, analyzing and interpreting the data.

Communications
To demonstrate impact and inspire other nonprofits to go green, all partners share their impact via their websites, success stories, and publications. They continually convey information about the project and keep communities engaged. A Grants to Green web seal is provided to each grantee to help promote their own sustainability efforts.